Disclaimer: Is this really necessary?
A/N: I meant to get this up sooner but I forgot that I didn't post it. I promise to have the next one up really soon, because it is all ready for you. I have some evil… I mean great plans to come. ;-D So keep reading and enjoying. Thanks for all the wonderful reviews. I know poor Estel. Wait until you see what is to come. evil laugh And thanks to all my new readers. I'm glad you are interested in this story and I hope you will keep coming back and reviewing. Take care everyone.
Chapter 22
Plans of Departure
And though life will take you down
It only matters if you let it
Get up, go through, press on
Today's your day
And though you want to quit
Don't think you can get through it
You've come too far to walk away
It's not gonna be today
And no matter how you feel
It's what you do that matters
This is your moment to be strong
Today's your day
So c'mon bring it on
-It's On - Superchick
Legolas looked silently out his window. Another group of Mirkwood elves were returning from a battle. Their number was small, probably only a third of their original group, and most looked injured in one way or the other. Legolas sighed and walked away from the window. He was tired of being cooped up inside the palace. He needed to be out there fighting with his people.
He had hoped that a week would have been long enough for him to recover, but even with his determination, his father was holding him back. Legolas hated it. He felt ready physically. His body was healing, his dislocated shoulder was mending, and his strength was returning. The only injury not yet healed was his right hand. The splinters had been removed, but he had very little feeling in his fingers. He couldn't bend or move them and the healers feared he would never be able to.
Legolas, however, was not about to let that stop him. He could still use his left hand. He could still fight and he could lead the elves. He needed to be out there fighting for his home. It was his duty as the Prince of Mirkwood.
Legolas squared his shoulders and left the room. Another group of elves was scheduled to leave in an hour. They would patrol and fight in the Southern edge of the woods. The elves there needed reinforcements to keep the orcs and spiders far enough away from the palace nearer Dol Guldur. Legolas was determined to lead that group.
He quickly walked towards the throne room where he found his father sitting at a table, looking over some maps and papers. There were only two guards in the room and they both paid no heed to the elf prince.
"Ada, I need to speak with you."
Thranduil looked up. "Yes, ion nin?"
"I ask your permission to lead the group of elves traveling to the Southern edge of the woods."
Thranduil sighed and put his papers down. "Legolas…"
"Ada, please." Legolas said interrupting. "I don't want to hear a lecture of how I need to rest and recover from my experience. I am fine, Ada. I need to be out there fighting."
Thranduil stood and walked towards his son. For a moment, he stared at his eldest. "Would you actually obey my command if I told you no?" He asked.
Legolas swallowed before answering. "I would if it was your choice, but it doesn't mean I would like it or that I wouldn't try again tomorrow."
Thranduil sighed and turned around. He stared out the window for a moment. He knew how much Legolas wanted to be fighting for his land and he did not blame him for it. He just wished that Legolas did not have to fight. He had just found his son after so many years of thinking he was dead, and now Legolas was about to leave again to fight in a loosing battle. He felt like he lost his son once. He did not want to deal with that again. He could not. Yet what choice did he have? Did he expect to keep his son locked up in the palace and forbid him to leave? Did he expect his son to sit around as all other elves were fighting to free Mirkwood?
No, he did not expect that. He knew his son needed to protect his land. It was part of his job as the prince of Mirkwood. In fact, the king was proud of his son's loyalty to his home. Even after his narrow escape from the clutches of the Nazgul, he was willing to go back into battle and face the creature if need be. Legolas was brave and relentless. He did not think of himself, but thought only of the good of the Mirkwood elves. Because of that, Thranduil knew Legolas would make a great king when his time came. His son was following strong in his own footsteps.
With a small sigh, he imagined for a moment what his wife, Isdilwen, would say if she was here. She would probably be worried sick for her son, but would show her strength and let him go. She would probably hug him and hold him as if she would never see him again, then bid him goodbye, hoping beyond hope that he would return. Inside her heart, she would be crying and wanting to pull her son safely back into her arms, but outside she would show courage and hope that her son would be home and his duty fulfilled.
Thranduil drew in a deep breath, smiling slightly at thoughts of his wife. He missed her very much, but thinking of her did his heart good. With a deep breath of air, he finally turned around to face his only son. He knew what his son needed to do.
"Go, Legolas, and may the grace of the Valor be with you."
Legolas bowed thankfully. He turned to leave, but stopped as he reached the door. He turned around to see his father staring out the window once again.
"Ada?" Legolas waited until his father turned before continuing. "Do not give up on hope. Light will come again, for all of us."
Thranduil nodded. "Be careful, my son."
"You as well." Legolas said as he walked out the door.
Hurriedly, he grab a few supplies. He picked up his beloved bow, looking at it silently. Kalen said he had found it with the orcs when they rescued him. They had also found his twin daggers and Estel's sword and bow. They had brought it all back to the palace.
Legolas swallowed hard as he laid eyes on Estel's sword, thinking silently of his fallen friend. Regret and grief crashed down hard upon his shoulders, making him cringe. Pushing those thoughts from his mind, he looked back at his bow. Legolas was grateful to have his bow back. The bow had been a gift from his mother before she sailed into the west. It was the last gift she had ever given him. A tear trailed down Legolas' face as he remembered. He missed his mother so much and longed to see her again. Yet at the same time, he was grateful that his mom was not able to see the state her Mirkwood home was in. She would be devastated
With a sigh, Legolas placed his bow behind his back. He knew at the moment he could not use it, but decided to take it anyway. Perhaps it would be useful later. Then he put both of his knives in their hilts on his back. With one last look around his room, he headed towards the stables.
Elrond and his company traveled at a slow pace through the woods. They were near Lothlorien and Elrond was one of the few that would be aloud immediate entrance to the place. For a moment, the elf lord looked around at the company that followed him. Glorfindel was at his side like usual, always ready to protect his friend if the need arose. Elladan and Elrohir were behind him off to his left. They were talking quietly amongst themselves and by the look of it, teasing each other about some age-old incident. Linriel, who had insisted on going, was beside Elrohir laughing quietly. Elrond smiled before looking at the rest of his followers. The other elves traveled behind them, most not saying a word, but simply enjoying the forest.
Suddenly Elrond turned back, slightly startled at the sound of a voice.
"Mae Govanen, Peredil o Rivendell." (Welcome, Elrond of Rivendell)
Elrond smiled as Haldir stepped out from behind a tree. Elves from Lorien could sneak up on anyone, even other elves. Quickly looking around, the elf lord noticed a few other elves step out from behind the trees.
"Come, Lady Galadriel is waiting." Haldir continued.
Elrond nodded and led his group in following the Lothlorien warrior. Within a few minutes, the elves left their horses and began climbing the stairs to meet the Lady of the Woods. Haldir led them to a room where Galadriel and Celeborn were waiting. Elrond smiled at seeing them, bowing his head slightly.
Galadriel smiled. "It is good to see you, Elrond, you and your company." She said as she laid eyes on his company. She spoke to each one individually without even speaking a word. Elrohir drew in a deep breath as she spoke into his mind, welcoming him and comforting him. She spoke very little, but her words of hope uplifted his spirit. He nodded his head, letting her words sink deep into his heart.
"I wish the circumstance were different." Celeborn stated.
"As do I." Elrond replied.
Galadriel looked at him. "So much worry and despair." She spoke into his mind. "Too much for one so young to have. Light will come again and the darkness will fade. Be strong!"
Elrond nodded with a small sigh.
"Come there is much to discuss." Galadriel spoke aloud.
Everyone nodded and followed her to a table across the room. For half an hour, they discussed what had transpired and their plan of attack. Then Galadriel bid them all to rest and restore their strength.
"Elrond, may I have a word?" Galadriel asked before Elrond left the room.
Elrond nodded and told his sons that he would be back.
"Walk with me." Galadriel said.
Without question, the elf lord followed.
"Have you heard anything from the human you call Estel?"
Elrond looked at her. "He traveled with Legolas a few weeks ago and I fear he has fallen into danger."
Galadriel nodded. "I, too, fear it. I have seen much in my mirror." Galadriel stopped walking and turned towards Elrond. "I saw something last night that troubled me greatly. I saw Estel stab Legolas with a knife."
Elrond cringed. "Why would he do such a thing?" He asked confused.
Galadriel shook her head. "My mirror shows many things, but what is shown is not often understood. Mayhap it will not even happen or perhaps it already has occurred."
Elrond sighed. He looked at Galadriel noticing the tension in her fair face. "There's more, isn't there?"
Galadriel nodded gravely. "I also saw a dark being attack your sons."
Elrond winced. "What kind of being?"
Galadriel swallowed hard. "I can not know for sure, but I fear it was one of the Nazgul."
Elrond stared wide-eyed. "A Nazgul in Mirkwood?"
Galadriel nodded. "I fear Sauron may have sent the Nazgul back to Dol Guldur to guard the land of Mirkwood. He was prepared for Mithrandir to drive him out, but he would not have left so easily if he did not have a plan. I knew it would come back to haunt us later. If this is true and a Nazgul is roaming free around Mirkwood, winning this fight will be even harder than I perceived."
Elrond drew in a deep breath and massaged his temples. "Reestablishing control in Mirkwood will be near impossible. I had assumed we would only have to drive the orcs and spiders south towards Dol Guldur, but how will we defend ourselves against a Nazgul?"
Galadriel placed a hand on his shoulder. "Hope has not left us, Elrond. We can still fight. However, we cannot use the rings of power like we had first planned. We must continue to keep them hidden. The Nazgul must not know that we posses the elven rings."
Elrond nodded. "What of Estel? If the Nazgul learns that he is Isilidur's only heir, the race of men could be doomed."
Galadriel looked out into the forest before answering. "Then for the sake of men, let us hope that Estel stays far away from the evil creature."
Elrond sighed. After a few minutes, Galadriel left him to rest. Elrond, however, could not rest. There was too much on his mind. Instead, he began to walk quietly through the woods. Even in the beautiful tranquility of Lothlorien, Elrond's heart could not find peace. He sighed slightly thinking of his twins. The thought of something happening to them tore the elf's heart. Though as if on cue, the sound of laughter reached Elrond's ears. He followed the sound and soon found the twins playing with their sister and Linriel. Arwen looked quite joyful to see her brothers and her best friend after not seeing them for many years. He smiled despite his earlier fears.
"Ada!" Arwen said as she saw her father.
She quickly ran to him and fell into his open arms. After embracing her tightly, Elrond let her go, smiling at her.
"I have missed you, el nin." He said using the nickname he gave her. (my star)
Arwen kissed him gently on his cheek. "I have missed you, too, Ada. It has been a long time."
Elrond nodded. "How do you fare?" He asked as he sat down near the others.
"As well as can be. I have heard of the grave battle in Mirkwood and it troubles my heart."
The others nodded solemnly.
"When are you traveling to aid them?" She asked.
"Whenever Lord Celeborn is ready. He will be leading us. Our plan is to use most of our warriors to set up a border for Mirkwood in the North. The elves have already secluded themselves to a portion of the north woods, though they are beginning to lose control over their area. We hope to help them reestablish control and help them protect themselves. We will drive the orcs and foul creatures as far south as we are able."
Arwen nodded. She looked over at Linriel who was staring off into the woods of Lorien. She placed a hand on her friend.
"What is it?"
Linriel looked at her and sighed. "I remember when my home wasn't called Mirkwood, but Greenwood. It was a beautiful forest full of wonder. But now, we only barely control a small portion in the north and the rest of the woods are a dark evil place. I fear it will never be restored to how it once was."
Arwen squeezed her hand gently as Elrohir put his arm around her.
"Do not give up, Linriel. The darkness only lasts for a while. The light will come and the shadow will leave." Elrond said.
Linriel looked at him, but did not speak. Soon, however, their conversation began to lighten. They enjoyed the company of each other and their bond began to strengthen their hearts. For once in a very long time, Elrond finally felt some peace come over him and renew the strength in his body. Though he could not forget his fears and concern, he felt the burden in his heart become lighter.
